Needle-actuating mechanism for sewing-machines.



Nb.'717,848. PATENIED JAN. a, 1903.

, B.-P.. HATCH; NEEDLE AGTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATIGN FILED FEB. 24, 1902.

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ATTORNEYS.

PATENTBD JAN. 6, 1903. I

EhP. HATCH. I NEEDLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MAGHINESL APPLICATION FILED FEB. '24, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

ldcazrd P M, F JW W 'EATENTEE JAN. 6, 1903.,

E. P. HATCH. NEEDLE AGTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MAGHINES.

3 SHEETS-31131 3.

APPLICATION FILED PHIL 24, 1902.

NO MODEL.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD P. HATCH, or LAeRANen, ILLINOIS.

NEEDLE-ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWlNG-MACHlNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,848, dated January 6, 1903. Application filed February 24, 1902. Serial No. 95,279. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. HATCH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lagrange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Needle-Actuating Mechanism for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to'provide a sewing-machine with mechanism of an improved construction to adapt the machine for use in such work as the stitching of wide trimming on corsets. In this class of work the ordinary machine cannot be used to advantage because of the necessity of stopping the machine and lifting the presser-foot whenever the impenetrable steels, whalebones, or the like pass across the throat-plate.

My object is to provide a sewing-machine with mechanism which will operate automatically to cause material interposed in the work and which is too hard or too thick to be penetrated and stitched or to be'readily penetrated and stitched as without danger to the needle to be fed across the path of the needle intermediate of the rise and descent thereof.

beneath the presser-foot and automatically throw the needle-bar into operation again when the said material has passed.

While my invention is more especially adapted for use in stitching lace, ribbon, or the like on corsets, it is not to be limited to this particular use, as it may be found advantageous in other classes of work.

My invention in its broadest sense consists of means for automatically rendering the penetrating device of a sewing-machine inactive at the impenetrable portions of the work.

In carrying out my invention according to the preferred construction I employ a tripping device resting at one endin contact with the work or material being stitched and ac- Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of so much of a sewing-machine as is necessary to illustrate the operation of my improvements; Fig. 2, a broken side elevation thereof; Fig. 3,'a broken top plan view; Fig. 4:, an enlarged broken view, partly sectional, of the side opposite that shown in Fi 2; Fig. 5, an enlarged view similar to the lower part of Fig. 1, but showing a presser-stem in addition to the auxiliarypresser-foot; Figs. 6and 7, plan sections taken on lines 6and 7 in Fig. 4:; Fig. 8, a plan section taken on line 8 in Fig. 5; Fig. 9, a broken section taken on line .9 in Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a perspective View of details at the upper end of the mechanism at the upper guide for the needle-bar and presser-bar; Fig. 11, a perspective view of a lever and serrated wheel forming one of the details of my improvements, and Fig. 12 a plan view of a throat-plate adapted for use with my improvements.

A is the arm of a sewing-machine, carrying the upperguide-head A and the lower guidehead A B is the needle-bar lever, connected by a link B with a reciprocator or cross-head B 0 is a needle-holder or needle-bar reciprocating through guide-openings in the heads A A and D a presser-bar, also reciprocating through guide-openings in said heads. On the lower end of the presser bar D is a presser-foot D, and the presser bar and foot are held down by the presser-spring D The parts described are common to sewingmachines of the type shown. The cross-head B reciprocates the needle-oar; but in the present construction the needle-bar is not rigidly secured to the cross-head. In the needlebar in the position shown is a notch a. Fulcrumed upon a pin Z7 in a horizontal recess 17 in the cross-head B is a bell-crank lever E, having a notch-engaging arm, clutch, or dog 0 and an outward'extending arm 0, against (A Li;

which bears a spring 0 fastened againstthe cross-head and operating normally to press the arm or dog 0 against the needle-bar to en age the notch a. Slidingin a guide-opening in the lower head A and through a guideopening d in the upper guide-head A is a tripping-bar F, provided along its upper end portion with a feather d, movable in a groove d at the side of the opening d to prevent axial turning of the bar F. On the lower end of the bar F is a head F, to which is pivoted one end of a tripping-lever F which is fulcrumed between its ends upon a pin 8, having hearings in ears e on the presser-foot D. At its opposite or free end the lever F carries a toothed wheel F journaled upon a pin 6 extending through the lever. On the rod F is an ear f, and connected therewith at one end and with an ear f on the head A is a spring F which tends normally to draw the rod F in the upward direction and raise the rear end of the lever F to press the forward end thereof and wheel F in the downward direction. The downward movement of the toothed wheel F is limited by engagement of the free end portion of the lever F with a recessed portion 6 of the presser-foot. On the presser-bar D in the position shown is a collar D ,which carriesa pin or screw D upon which the presser-spring D bears. Integral with the collar D is a horizontal laterally-extending sleeve portion D having an opening 9 along one end portion. Mounted in the sleeve D is a rock-shaft G, provided at the opening g with a laterally-projecting lug or finger G. On the outer end of the rock-shaft Gis a collar G carrying a downward-projecting cam-finger G The lug or finger G engages a short vertical slot h in the bar F. The cross-head B is formed on one side with a cam-surface B terminating just above the lever E. In the upper part of the needle-bar O is a socket t, and fastened against the upper surface of the head A is a spring-catch 11, secured in place by means of a screw 2' The spring-catch t bears gently against a flattened surface 71 of the needlebar in the reciprocation thereof, and in the movement of the needle-bar to the highest point in its reciprocation the catch engages gently with the socket 1'.

When the free end of the lever F is down or in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 5, the rod F is in its raised position, whereby the rock-shaft G and cam-finger G are in the position shown by full lines in the figures. Raising of the free end portion of the lever F draws the rod F in the downward direction, causing the rock-shaft on account of the engagement of the lug G with the slot h of the bar F to turn and swing the finger G from the position shown by full lines to that shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, whereby it is inthe path of the cam-surface B of the cross-head. When the finger G is in this position, the cam-surface B in the rise of the cross-head B and needle-bar slides upward along the finger G until the latter engages the arm 0 of the lever E and swings it against the resistance of the spring 0 to disengage the arm or dog 0 from the notch aof the needle-bar. This unlocking or release of the needle-bar from the cross-head takes place just before the needle-bar reaches the highest limit of its movement, and at this time the engagement of the catch 01 with the notch t' of the needle-bar holds the latter steadily while the cross-head is sliding up and down thereon.

In operation when the presser-foot is lowered and presses upon the material to be stitched the toothed wheel F projects below the presser-foot and rests upon and may penetrate said material. I prefer to provide a throat-plate H, as shown in Fig. 12, which is cut away at H, as shown, so that the teeth of the wheel will not ride upon the surface of the plate. In stitching corsets in the direction across the steels, Whalebones, or the like when a steel, whalebone, or similar hard surface passes beneath the presser-foot it engages the tripping-wheel F and as the teeth of the wheel cannot penetrate said material the wheel and that end of the lever F are raised to lower the bar F, turn the rock-shaft G, and swing the arm G into the path of the lever E, whereby in the following upstroke of the needle-bar it is unlocked or released from engagement with the cross-head and held in the elevated position by the catchspring i. While the hard material is passing beneath the Wheel F the cross-head in its reciprocation will slide up and down upon 7 the needle-bar without lowering the needle and no stitching will be performed. When the hard material has passed from beneath the roller F and therefore passed the line of reciprocation of the needle,the toothed roller under the resilient action of the spring G penetrates the material, causing the adjacent end of the lever F to lower and raise the bar F to swing the finger G out of engagement with the lever E, whereby the dog 0 in the next rise of the cross-head engages the notch t of the needle-bar and looks it to the cross-head, whereby they reciprocate together and the stitching proceeds.

In stitching several thicknesses of material, as in corsets, it is desirable to provide an auxiliary presser-foot, such as the presser-foot I. It consists of a bar of the shape shown to extend downward through an opening in the main presser-foot D and engage the material being stitched close to the path of the needle. It is necessary in operation that the auxiliary presser-foot shall release the material when the needle is raised and the material is to be fed along. For this purpose the auxiliary presser-foot is mounted upon a bar I, which reciprocates through guide-openings in the stationary heads A A. Confined between a collar I on the bar I and the under side of the headA is a spring I which tends normally to press the auxiliary presser -foot I down rrasee upon the goods being stitched. On the bar 1', above the head A is a collar I presenting a shoulder in the path of the cross-head 13 As the cross-head rises and withdraws the needle from the material being stitched the crosshead strikes the under side of the shoulder I and raises it, the bar I, and the auxiliary presser-foot, whereby the latter releases the material and permits it to be fed.

In conjunction with the auxiliary presserfoot I, I provide an additional presser-foot or presser-stem K, which is attached to the bar I at one side of the foot I and extends through an opening in the main presser-foot D, close to the side of the wheel F The presserstein K presses upon the material being stitched over the opening H in the throatplate and by pressing down said material aids or accentuates the action of the wheel F particularly where the steels or the like are close together, and the gcloth stretched between them tends to hold the wheel up against the resistance of the spring F Although I prefer to provide the trippinglever F with a serrated wheel F to penetrate fabric to be stitched, the wheel need not necessarily be toothed, nor is it necessary that it shall be a wheel; but it may be a foot-piece of .any kind that will slide upon the work. As in stitching corsets the hard steels or bones will increase thethickness of the corset material, such thickness will raise the end of the tripping-lever and actuate the tripping mechanism to release the needle-barhefore the hard material passes into line with the needle.

My invention may be applied in stitching any articles where it is desired that the unevenness iu the surface shall effect engagement and release between the needle and its reciprocating mechanism or otherwise prevent the needle from stitching for the reasons set forth.

While I prefer to construct my improvements throughout as shown and. described, they may be variously modified in the matter of details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sewing-machine, stilchforming mechanism including a penetrating device and feeding mechanism, and means for automatically rendering the device inactive at the impenetrable portions of the work.

2. In a sewing machine, stitch forming mechanism including a needle and feeding mechanism, and means for automatically arresting the action of the needle when the feed mechanism presents impenetrable portions of the work.

3. In a sewingmachine, stitch forming mechanism including a needle and feeding mechanism, and means for arresting the action of the needle-bar said means being controlled by surface variations of the work.

4. In a sewing-machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-bar and feeding mechanism, mechanism for reciprocating said needle-bar and means for automatically coupling and uncoupling said needle-bar and reciprocating mechanism controlled by surface variations of the work.

5. In a sewiug machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-bar and feeding mechanism, mechanism for reciprocating said needle-bar and means includinga trip to bear upon the work for uncoupling and coupling the needle-bar, and receiprocating mechanism the movements of the trip being eifected by variations in the work-surface.

6. In a sewing-machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-bar and feeding mechanism, mechanism for reciprocating said needle-bar, means for coupling and uncoupling said needle-bar and reciprocating mechanism and a yielding trip operatively connected with said means and arranged to bear upon the Work adjacent to the path of the needle.

7. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-holder and its reciprocator and feeding mechanism, of engaging and releasing means between the said holder and reciprocaror, and actuating means therefor comprising yielding tripping mechanism bearing upon the work.

8. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-holder and its reciprocator and feeding mechanism, of engaging and releasing means between the said needle-holder and reciprocator, and actuating means therefor comprising yieldingtripping mechanism having a wheel engaging the work adjacent to the path of the needle. i

9. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needleholder and its reciprocator and feeding mechanism, of engaging and releasing means between the said needle-holder and reciproca-tor, and actuating means therefor comprising yielding tripping mechanism having a toothedwheel engaging and penetrating the work adjacent to the path of the needle.

10. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-holder and its reciprocator and feeding mechanism, of engaging and releasing means between the said needle-holder and reciprocator, and actuating means therefor comprising a yielding tripping-bar and a tripping lever connected with said bar and bearing upon the work.

11. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a presser-foot, needle-holder and its reciprocator and feeding mechanism, of engaging and releasing means between the said needle-holder and reciprocator, and actuating means therefor comprising a tripping-bar and a lever fulcrumed upon the presser-foot connected with said tripping-bar and bearing upon the work.

12. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-bar and reciprocating cross-head and feeding mechanism of an engaging and releasing dog upon the cross-head for the neodle-bar, and means for actuating said dog comprising yielding tripping mechanism engaging the work.

13. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needle holder and its reciprocating crosshead and feeding mechanism, of an engaging and releasing dog for the needle-holder upon the cross-head, a dog-operating cam-lever movable into and out of the path of the do and actuating means for said cam-lever comprising yielding tripping mechanism bearing upon the Work. I

14:- In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including the needle-reciprocator, feeding mechanism, and presser-foot, of tripping mechanism for throwing the needle into and out of operation, mounted upon the presser-foot and bearing against the work.

15. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including the needle-reciprocator, feeding mechanism, and presser-foot, of tripping mechanism for throwing the needle into and out of operation, having a lever fulcrumed upon the presser-t'oot and bearing against the work.

16. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including the needle-reciprocator, feeding mechanism, and presser-foot, of tripping mechanism for throwing the needle into and out of operation, having a spring-pressed lever fulcrumed upon the presser-foot and a toothed wheel on the lever projecting below the presser-foot and bearing against the work.

17. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including the needle-reciprocator, feeding mechanism, and presser-foo t,of tripping mechanism for throwing the needle into and out of operation, mounted upon the presser-foot and bearing against the work, and a reciprocating auxiliary presser-foot bearing upon the work closely adjacent to the path of the needle.

18. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including the needle-reciprocator, feeding mechanism, and presser-foot, of tripping mechanism for throwing the needle into and out of operation, having a lever fulcrumed upon the presser-foot and bearing against the work, and a reciproeating auxiliary presser-foot bearing upon the work closely adjacent to said lever.

19. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including the needle-reciprocator, feeding mechanism, and presser-foot,of tripping mechanism for throwing the needle into and out of operation, having a spring-pressed lever fulcrumed-upon the presser-foot and a toothed wheel on the lever projecting below the presser-foot and bearing against the work, and a reciprocating auxiliary presser-foot bearing upon the work closely adjacent to said wheel.

20. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including the need le-reciprocator, feeding mechan'ismyand presser-foot,of tripping mechanism for throwing the needle into and out of operation, mounted upon the presser-foot and bearing against the work, and a reciprocating auxiliary presser-foot, bearing upon the work closely adjacent to said tripping mechanism, actuated by the said reciprocator.

21. The combination with a stationary support, needle-bar and its reciprocator and feeding mechanism, of engaging and releasing clutch mechanism between the said needlebar and reciprocator, a notch in the needlebar, a catch-spring on said support in the path of said notch when the needle-bar is at the upper limit of its stroke, and actuating means for said clutch mechanism comprising yielding tripping mechanism bearing upon the work.

22. In a sewing-machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-bar and feeding mechanism, means for automatically arresting the action of the needle-bar said means being controlled by surface variations of the work, a presser-foot, and an auxiliary presserfoot arranged closely adjacent to the path of the needle.

EDWARD P. HATCH.

In presence of- ALBERT D. BACOI, A. MOLDANER. 

